Massive SpaceX Starship Upgrade: Could This Really Work!?

This has been a whirlwind of ground breaking updates as SpaceX prepares for test flight 5. Not only that, they have done huge testing this week. This is a Massive SpaceX Starship Upgrade. Could This Really Work!? I tell you, it is exciting to watch this play out. Along with that we have Record-breaking rocket launches and spectacles like this! Indeed, the space industry is absolutely buzzing with excitement. There is so much to cover today so sit back and relax. This one is dense! We have Falcon Heavy - GOES-U, Starlink Group 10-2 , Group 9-2 & Group 10-3 and NROL-186 (expected Starshiled), Starliner Return now in July, and update on Vulcan’s Second Flight, and finally Chang`e 6 and SVOM.

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[dotancohen]

16:30 Who else would we trust to deorbit the ISS? I would just turn over maintenance of the station to Boeing. No explicit mention of deorbiting it needed.

[wadewilson]

Sensational headlines aside, Starliner’s problems do beg the question as to whether this flight was/is sufficient to certify it as “operational”.

[johnwick]

I'm living for this catch
Please please please be successful.
This will be one of the most amazing sights in human history

[davet]

You mean to tell me that China is not overly concerned with the safety and well-being of their citizens? Imagine my shock... 😐😒

[mdeasy]

Wow! The engineering teams at Spacex are truly How in the world are they getting all this designed and built in so little time? The pace is next level!!!!

[particle_wave]

This will be the next big moment. We got a booster landing, then a double booster landing with Falcon Heavy, then a successful belly flop with a Starship. Up next is catching the largest booster ever out of the air. Gonna be wild.

[davidboyle]

Thanks for making a point about why Starliner is being kept in space. The ability of SpaceX to make continual improvements in Falcon 9 is/was fundamentally aided by being able to examine the booster components after landing. Boeing will not have that chance, and wants to get as much data out of that trunk as possible. Nice presentation.

[Robert-mls]

I’m glad I’ve lived long enough to see this. I was born before we went to the moon. My great grandmother was born before there were planes.

[wesleylahman]

They have perfected the falcon booster landings. It took some time of course but they will achieve this goal also. I can’t wait to see it!!

[BradiKal]

What makes this extra fun is that no matter HOW the early catch attempts go we know the program moves forward.

Its not as if NASA will shut the program down for a 3 year investigation if the chopsticks get sheared off.
You know that if the first catch ends up with the tower completely yeeted into the ocean Elon will high five the crew and the rebuild will start immediately.

[marcusoutdoors]

Watching the re entry footage just highlights how well the team did in building the Space Shuttle back in the 70s.

[ajctrading]

Elon said during his interview with Tim Dodd that launch tower 2 will be taller than launch tower 1, that the chopsticks will be shorter, meaning they will have less inertia, meaning that they will be able to move quicker than the launch tower 1 chopsticks. And finally ...Elon said that launch tower 2 will have a COMPLETELY REDESIGNED OLM, with a .. wait for it...DUN DUN DUNNNN, A PROPER FLAME TRENCH... About time too, considering some of us have been saying since the start that a proper flame trench was going to be required, especially since Space X want to be able to launch starships daily and eventually even quicker than that. The bidet system was a short term fix that was never gonna cut it long term. I'm guessing it could be a scaled up version of the flame diverter trench at Massey's test
Site. Will be interesting to see.

[WastelandSurvival]

4 Falcon 9's & a falcon heavy in one week is insane, image showing that to someone 20 years ago

[DigitalPetrol]

Thanks Marcus. You're my one must-watch video every Saturday

[Billybobble]

I watch a bunch of weekly space news update channels, just to help drum in what amazing things happen week to week, but this channel is my go to for all the facts and information. Thanks Marcus and team.

[RVaviator]

Thanks Marcus and Team...! " If you Build it they will come. "

[WilboBaggins-dmub]

Brilliant; fast; action packed; beautiful images and videos. Supremely professional!

[kt]

Raptor engines look so streamlined compared to Blue Origins BE-4 engines.

[Rosieplayz]

Thanks for the update Marcus! Regarding the Chinese rocket, I sure hope international space organizations think twice about using their rockets for payload (France, ahem...).

[lesboatright]

It is noteworthy that modern Aircraft carriers routinely catch multi-ton flying vehicles, most of which are moving horizontally at 100+ knots at the catch point, (even accounting for the forward speed of the ship). Aircraft Carrier arresting gear is well-known, and has proven to be reliable, and rapidly reuseable. Just what SpaceX wants for Starship!

How about placing 2 deployable “hooks” (very similar to US Navy aircraft tailhooks) on either side of Starship, just below the Grid Fins. Then equip each of the 2 catching arms with a sort of trapeze cable (wire rope) arrangement suspended a few meters ABOVE (and slightly inboard of) each arm structure. The cables would be routed around large sheaves and then into a piston/damper mechanism to absorb the deceleration loads (similar to aircraft carriers). This set-up would allow for minor dispersions and random ‘unknowns’ of the catching operation, including having variable descent rates, variable propellant masses remaining on board, variable surface winds, and minor horizontal/vertical positioning errors at engine shutdown. These are things that will always be inherent in the catch operation.

So imagine adapting the aircraft carrier arresting gear concept for Vertical ops rather than horizontal deck landings. Two sets of wire ropes, one for each catch arm, and Two deployable “hooks” on the sides of starship. It just might work.